Jason Behrendorff shone in just his second match for Australia as his 4/21 guided the visitors to a series-levelling win in Guwahati.

Riding on Jason Behrendorff’s 4/21, Australia beat India by eight wickets in the Guwahati T20 to square the series 1-1. (AP)

Jason Behrendorff spoke about making the ‘opportunity count’ ahead of his T20I debut for Australia in Ranchi. The left-arm pacer did not take long to walk his talk as he ripped through a famed Indian batting line-up in the second T20I in Guwahati. With figures of 4/21 in four overs, Behrendorff helped Australia level the T20I series.

First over strikes

Needing a win to keep the series alive, Australia needed an inspired performance. The 27-year-old Behrendorff provided just that at the most opportune of time. After David Warner sent India to bat on a brand new track at the Barsapara Stadium, hosting its first match, Behrendorff provided the first sting in just the third ball.

His full length delivery came into Rohit Sharma’s pads and the tall pacer’s loud appeal for an lbw was met with a positive response from the umpire. With the home crowd silenced with the early onslaught, the New South Wales player sent another shockwave in the last ball of the first over as he got captain Virat Kohli for a duck.

His good length delivery nipped a bit as Kohli tried to play it across the line. Behrendorff first appealed for another lbw but then as the ball popped, made a brilliant catch.

Already in shock, Kohli consulted Dhawan about taking a review but decided going against it as he returned to the pavilion after a maiden duck in T20Is. India were 8/2 then.

Already wobbling under the Behrendorff’s opening salvo, the opportunity was in front of a young Indian middle-order to make their presence felt. Instead, Manish Pandey nicked Behrendoff’s wide delivery and wicketkeeper Tim Paine took an easy catch to reduce India to 16/3 inside three overs.

And that was not all from Behrendorff, as he got Dhawan too in his third over. But that wicket was more about a stunning catch by Australian skipper David Warner. The Indian opener tried to go after a fuller delivery from Behrendorff, but the timing did not seem to be right as the ball speared towards long-off.

Warner made a fast backward run and caught the left-handed opener as India struggled to 27/4 inside five overs. Warner gave an angry look towards the fans and the reason was obvious. In a tour that has been so frustrating so far for the team from Down Under, a debutant pacer provided them the spark at just the right moment.